The War of the Nations

Let's pray together. Father, thank you for tonight, a chance once again to peer deep into the scriptures to understand the return of the King and pray, Lord, that our eyes would be open and Father, you'd remove all distractions from what took place today in our minds, that Father, we might clearly be focused upon Jesus Christ and is soon coming again. We pray in your name.

Amen. Tonight is the 20th message in our series, The Return of the King. When we began 20 weeks ago, I thought it'd be maybe 10, maybe 13 weeks, but now it's up to 20.

We keep going. The Lord will be back before we finish the series, but we praise the Lord for the opportunity to look into his word to understand the different facets of the arrival of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we began the series, we began quoting to you the 12th article of the Jewish creed.

It reads as follows. I believe with a perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, and though we tarry, I will wait daily for his coming. That should be our prayer, the arrival of the Messiah.

Though we tarry, we wait daily for his coming. Moment by moment, we wait for the return of the King. The Jews, of course, believe he has yet to come.

We understand that he's already been here and he's going to come again, having died for our sins, rose again the third day and is coming again. We anticipate his arrival, number one, because it was all planned by God from the very beginning. God has an incredible plan and everything has run on course exactly as he has designed it.

So way back in Genesis chapter 3 when he talked about how the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head, speaking specifically of Calvary and how Christ would win the victory over Satan, over sin, over death. It was all about a marvelous plan that the Messiah would come to redeem man and then he would come again to reign over man on this earth. God had a perfect plan.

You can read about it in 1 Peter chapter 1. You can read about it in Revelation 5 as we saw earlier about how the Lamb of God would take the scroll from the Father's hand and begin to break the seals because he was the one that is the rightful heir of the nations of this world. Psalm 2, that great messianic psalm, speaks about the Lord God, as he said, asking me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance. And so the whole aspect about the return of the king was all planned by God from the very beginning.

Not only was it planned by God, but it was proclaimed by the prophets. We've told you before that 30% of the Bible is about prophecy. But the prophets spent the bulk of their time proclaiming the arrival of the king.

That he would come in all of his splendor, in all of his glory. And every year at Christmas we receive Christmas cards and far and away the most popular verse on those cards is Isaiah 9 verses 6 and 7 about the child that's born and the son that's given. The son wasn't born.

The son was given. The child was born. Speaking of the humanity and the deity of Jesus Christ our Lord.

And the Bible tells us that that one who was given, that one who was born is called El Gabor, the mighty God. He's called the everlasting father or the originator of eternity. In other words, he is the eternal God.

He is the mighty God. He is that prince of peace. That's what makes him wonderful and that's what makes him a great counselor because he's the eternal God.

But the prophet would tell us that the government would be upon his shoulders and his kingdom would last forever. Oh, the prophets would speak of the coming of the king. Jeremiah would say it in Jeremiah chapter 23.

Jeremiah 23 verse number 5, Behold the days are coming declares the Lord when I shall raise up for David a righteous branch. And we know that the branch, the Nazir is another name for the Messiah. And he will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell securely. And this is his name by which he will be called the Lord our righteousness. We know that the king is going to come mainly because it was all planned by God.

That which was planned by God was proclaimed by the prophets. You can read about it in Isaiah 11 verses 1 to 10, Isaiah 33, Isaiah 35, Isaiah 63, Ezekiel 21, Daniel 7, Zechariah 14 and on and on and on it goes because the prophets knew about the coming of the king. And so the return of the king not only was planned by God and proclaimed by the prophets, it was promised by Christ.

We looked at it in detail in John chapter 14 verses 1 to 3 where Christ said that in my father's house there are many mansions. Don't let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.

He says because in my father's house there are many mansions I will come again and I will receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also. 21 different times Jesus said he was coming again. Three times Revelation 22 as he closes out this marvelous book speaking about the fact that he is going to come quickly.

In the parables in Luke chapter 19 and Matthew 24 and 25 as he speaks about the coming of the son of man he speaks specifically about his arrival. The return of the king planned by God, proclaimed by the prophets, promised by Christ, preached by the apostles. They believed in the imminent return of the king.

They lived daily in the light of his coming. Paul 1 Corinthians 1 verses 4 to 7, Philippians 3 verse number 20, Colossians 3 verse number 4, that famous set of verses in 1 Thessalonians 4 16 to 18 speak about the return of the king. The writer of Hebrews, Hebrews 9 verse 28, James, James 5 verse 7 to 8, Peter 1 Peter chapter 1, 1 Peter chapter 5, also 2 Peter chapter 3, John in 1 John chapter 3. The apostles all preached about the return of the king.

It was also previewed on the mount of transfiguration. The return of the king was previewed on the mount of transfiguration. Remember the first time Jesus ever said anything about the fact that he was coming again was Luke chapter 9 verse number 26 when he said for whoever is ashamed of me and my words of him will the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the father and of the holy angels.

In other words this is the first time the disciples ever heard Jesus say something about he was coming again. And then of course on that mount of transfiguration he unzipped his flesh and Moses and Elijah were there with the Lord Jesus Christ picturing the Old Testament saints along with Peter, James and John picturing the New Testament saints because Christ says but some of you will not taste death until you see the kingdom and its glory. That's in Luke chapter 9. They went up 8 days later on top of this mountain and the Lord unzipped his flesh and so the coming of the king was previewed on the mount of transfiguration.

The return of the king planned by God, proclaimed by the prophets, promised by Christ, preached by the apostles, previewed on the mount of transfiguration, petitioned by the saints. The saints have always petitioned the coming of the king. Way back in Isaiah chapter 64, Isaiah 64 verse number 1 it says these words.

Oh that thou would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence. Oh that thou would come down. The petition of the saints centers around the return of the king.

That's why in Matthew 6 Jesus said when you pray, pray this way, thy kingdom come. It's all about the coming of God's kingdom to this earth. And what do we read in Revelation 6 verse number 9 where those martyred saints in the tribulation would pray how long oh Lord, how long until you the holy and righteous and just God receives his due glory.

All about the return of the king. But lastly and not least number 7, the whole aspect about the return of the king was portrayed by John in the book of Revelation. Unlike any other book, the book of Revelation portrays to us the return of the king.

Chapter 1 verse number 7, it was mentioned very clearly at the outset as John would say these words. Behold, he is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him. Even those who pierced him and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him.

Even so, amen. In other words, John says his coming will be visible. Every eye will see him.

His coming will be vengeful because they will mourn over him. And his coming will be victorious because those who pierced him will know that they had pierced their Messiah and he comes to save him. And then in Revelation chapter 19, John unfolds for us that great vision when he says, and I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and he who sat upon it is called faithful and true.

Why? Because it speaks of his reliability. He's faithful and true. He said he was coming again and he most surely will because he's faithful and true.

And in righteousness he judges and wages war and his eyes are a flame of fire and upon his head many diadems and he has a name written upon him which no one knows except himself. Not only does it speak of his reliability, it speaks of his mystery. People ask all the time, what's the name that no one knows? That's why it says he has a name that no one knows.

Because no matter how much you want to know him, you will spend all eternity trying to grasp the infinite God of eternity. A name which no one knows. And he's clothed with a robe dipped in blood and his name is called the Word of God.

Not only is he called faithful and true because of his reliability and not only does he have a name that no one knows, it speaks of his mystery, but he's called the Word of God which speaks of his eternality. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And then it says in the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean were following him on white horses.

That's you and me. That's a preview of you and me coming again with the Messiah of course. And from his mouth comes a sharp sword so that with it he might smite the nations and he will rule them with a rod of iron.

And he treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty and on his robe and on his thigh he has a name, another name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. It speaks of his royalty. He is the king of every king that's ever existed.

He is the lord of every lord that's ever existed. Because he's king of kings, he is lord of lords. And then in verse number 17, And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, Come, assemble for the great supper of God, in order that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.

And I saw the beast, that's the antichrist, and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against him who sat upon the horse, and against his army. And that verse leads us into our topic this evening, the war of the nations. There's coming a war, the greatest of all wars.

It's the last war. It's the biggest of all wars. And that war will be fought, not in America, but in the land of Israel.

For us to understand that war, we want to understand the place of that war. Once we understand the place of that war, we'll understand the purpose of that war. And then we'll move and understand the players in that war, and then the promise that God offers because of that war.

If you have your Bible, turn with me to Revelation chapter 16. Revelation chapter 16. We'll begin reading the verse number 12.

And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates. And its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.

For they are spirits of demons, performing signs which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God the Almighty. Behold, I am coming like a thief, blessed is the one who stays awake, keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked, and men see his shame. And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.

Here we have an understanding of the war of the nations. It introduces to us what's going to take place at the end. So we'll begin with the place of the war.

Two things I want you to see. Number one, the river. Number two, the region.

First of all, the river. We know that during the tribulation there are seven seals that are broken. When the seventh seal is broken, there are seven trumpets that blow.

When the seventh trumpet blows, seven bowls are poured. All judgment upon the earth. Revelation 16 gives us a detailed description of those seven bowls.

Once the seventh bowl is poured, the cry is, it is done. When Christ was on the cross, he cried, it is finished. That was the work of redemption.

It's done. It's over. But when the seventh bowl is poured, then the cry is, it is done.

That is, it's over. The king is coming. He sets up his kingdom.

That which is rightfully his, he takes for himself. Because everything that's been accomplished up to that point is done. And the king rules for all eternity.

And the Bible says in Revelation 16 verse number 12, The sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates. And its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east. Now, this becomes very significant.

Why? Well, you know and I know that the river Euphrates is the eastern boundary of the land of Israel. Now, the UN doesn't know that. President Obama doesn't know that.

Most people don't even know that. In fact, the guide that we use when we go to Israel isn't even sure of that. But we know because we can read Genesis 15 verse number 18.

We can read Deuteronomy 1 and Joshua chapter 1 to know that the eastern boundary of the land of Israel is the great river Euphrates. There is no mistaking about that. Now, does Israel have that land today? Answer, no.

Will they? Yes, they will. But right now they don't. But that is the eastern boundary.

As God gave the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So why is it the drying up of the great Euphrates river is so significant? Well, we know that the Euphrates river begins on top of Mount Ararat. Which is in modern day Turkey.

On top of Mount Ararat, it's covered with snow and ice cap 365 days a year. The melting of that ice, the melting of that snow flows down at 17,000 feet in the air. And the runoff from that great Mount Ararat forms the great river Euphrates that runs for 1,800 miles into the Persian Gulf.

Some 3,600 feet wide at its widest point. That is the eastern boundary of the great river Euphrates. So why is it that a judgment of God, a bowl that's poured out, dries up this river? What makes it so significant? Well, you've got to read what happens before that.

Because we know that in verse number 8, when the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire, and men were scorched with fierce heat, they blasphemed God. We know that there's going to be a time of great heat. Well that scorching of men is going to melt the ice cap on top of Mount Ararat.

And therefore, that water will run down and overflow the Euphrates as it's never been flooded before. And in order for the kings of the earth to get to the great war of God in the land of Israel, they must cross that great river. To do that, God provides a way for them to cross.

He dries up the river after it's already been flooded that they might come for the great war of God. That's important. Because we know that the whole world is completely dark.

How do we know that? Well, it says, when the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast, his kingdom became darkened, and they gnawed their tongues because of pain. And we know that at the end, the illuminaries disappear, the sky rolls up like a scroll, and the world becomes pitch black. It's all in preparation of the return of the king.

So, in order for them to get to where they need to be, God makes sure it happens exactly as He's planned it. We move from the river to the region. The region is a very popular region.

It says, these words, verse number 14, for they are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the war of the great day of God the Almighty. Verse 16, and they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. Now, they gather at a specific place.

Har-Magedon is the hill of Megiddo. I just so happen to have a picture of that for you. The hill of Megiddo.

This is that hill. It's called Etel. Go to John Sunday, that Etel is a city built upon a city, built upon a city, built upon a city.

What you see before you are 25 different cities that have been built one upon another at a very strategic place in the land of Israel, a place called the Valley of Megiddo, or another name is the Valley of Ezdralon, or the Jezreel Valley. On Sunday, we showed you a cliff on that valley. That cliff would be located in this direction over here.

And so this is called the Tell of Megiddo, located on a very strategic place called the Via Maris, which is the way to the sea when people went from Egypt to Syria, they would cross by this way. That made Megiddo the most strategic place in the land of Israel to occupy. He who controlled the Tell of Megiddo controlled the ancient world.

Okay? This is that Tell. You can go there today. You can see Solomon's stables.

You can see what took place on that Tell when there was a palace that was there because Solomon had reigned there. So this becomes a very strategic place. It's located 60 miles from Jerusalem.

60 miles from Jerusalem. Now, you need to know that the Bible says that they gathered there. It never says that they fight there.

So it's important to you and to me to understand exactly what the Bible says because there are many people who believe the battle will be fought in the Valley of Megiddo. There have been over 200 battles fought in that valley. Over 200 of them.

Napoleon said it was the greatest battlefield he had ever seen. And it is that. If you've seen it, it's vast.

It's huge. It will occupy millions. On this day in Revelation 16.

But the region of the war is significant. And so what I want to do is explain to you exactly where that region is and what takes place in the Valley of Megiddo. Twice it says that the kings of the east gathered in the Valley of Megiddo.

The only way to get there is if the great river Euphrates is dried up. Once it's overflowed, they might gather there for the great war of God. But the battle is not fought in the Valley of Megiddo.

You need to understand that. Because most commentators never tell you that. They just figure that that's where the battle is going to be.

How do we know that that's not where the battle is going to be fought? Well, the only way we can know is if we study the Bible. So, hold on to your hats. Get your Bibles ready.

And we're going to show you where the battle is fought. We will begin in Isaiah 63. In Isaiah 62, Israel is promised that God is going to redeem them.

They will be his people. When will that happen? At the return of the king. So, when you read Isaiah 63, verse number 1, it says, Who is this who comes from Edom? Isaiah asked a question.

With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah. In ancient days, Bozrah was known for the dying of garments. Isaiah sees this one who is coming from Edom with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah.

This one who is majestic in his apparel marching in the greatness of his strength. Who is this? Isaiah asks. It is I who speak in righteousness.

Mighty saved. Why is your apparel red? And your garments like the one who treads the winepress. Now remember, we read Revelation 19 already this evening.

It speaks about the treading of the great winepress of the wrath of God. So Isaiah asks the question. I have trodden, the answer is, I have trodden the wine trough alone.

And from the peoples there was no man with me. I also trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. And their life blood is sprinkled on my garments.

And I stained all my raiment. For the day of vengeance was in my heart and my year of redemption has come. In other words, there's a day of vengeance that's going to come and that's the great war of God.

But that day of vengeance is also the day of his redemption when he redeems the Jewish nation. And I looked and there was no one to help. And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold.

So my own arm brought salvation to me and my wrath upheld me. And I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath and I poured out their life blood on the earth. Now, when Isaiah sees the Messiah, he sees him coming from Edom.

He sees him coming from Bozrah. Bozrah is the ancient capital of Edom. Now, why is this so significant? Well, turn back with me if you would to Revelation chapter 12.

Revelation chapter 12. How many times have we told you Revelation 12 is the history of the world in one chapter. In Revelation 12, verse number 13, it says, And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman.

Now, remember the woman is Israel. Who gave birth to the male child. That's the Messiah.

And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman in order that she might fly into the wilderness to her place where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time from the presence of the serpent. Now, Israel in a supernatural way is moved from Jerusalem to the wilderness. It says earlier in verse number 6, And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God.

In other words, God has prepared a place in the wilderness so that there she might be nourished for 1,260 days. Which is 42 months or 3 1⁄2 years. When does that happen? As a result of the abomination of desolation as recorded by Daniel the prophet, when the Antichrist sets himself up to be king, to be worshipped by all, that he is God, he demands the world worships him, Israel flees to the wilderness.

And God in a supernatural way on the wings of a great eagle, no, it's not an airplane. People say, well, that must be an airplane. No, it's not.

The wings of the great eagle are symbolic of how God in a supernatural way takes care and preserves his nation. All you have to do is read about it all throughout the Old Testament. And God preserves them.

He has a place prepared for them and that place is prepared in the wilderness. In the Old Testament, listen carefully, the wilderness was always Edom and Moab. Always, without exception.

So now, we know from Revelation 12, Israel goes to the wilderness, which is Edom and Moab. In Isaiah 63, when Isaiah sees the king coming, he sees him coming from Edom, the wilderness. He sees him coming from Bozrah, Some 50 miles south of the Dead Sea is the ancient capital of Edom, which is Bozrah.

Which, by the way, is in close proximity to a place called the Rose Red City of the Rocks, called Petra. A lot of people believe that Israel will flee to Petra, the City of the Rocks. Many have believed that for years, have hidden Bibles in the Rocks of Petra.

Those of you who have been with me to Israel and been to Jordan, you know what Petra's like. It's an amazing, amazing place. Now, the important thing is, when Isaiah sees him coming, he sees him coming from Edom.

Now listen carefully. Turn to Isaiah 34. It's just going to get better, so hang on to your hats.

Isaiah 34, verse number 1. Draw near, O nations, to hear and listen, O peoples. Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it. For the Lord's indignation is against all the nations, and His wrath against all their armies.

He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over to slaughter. So their slain will be thrown out, and their corpses will give off their stench.

And the mountains will be drenched with their blood, and all the hosts of heaven will wear away, and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll. Now when is that going to happen? At the end of the tribulation. All their hosts will wither away, as a leaf withers from the vine, or as one withers from the fig tree.

For my sword is satiated in heaven. Behold, it shall descend for judgment upon, what's the next word? Edom. And upon the people whom I have devoted to destruction.

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood. It is sated with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice, where? In Bezra, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

People say, well, when Jesus comes back, He's going to come back and land on the Mount of Olives. No, that's not what He said. But we hear that all the time.

Acts 1, 11 says, Ye men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? Don't you know that the same Jesus will return in the same manner in which He left? It doesn't say He's going to return to the same place. You've got to read the text. It's not that difficult to read.

He's going to return in the same manner. Now listen, He will eventually end up on the Mount of Olives. But He doesn't descend to the Mount of Olives.

He descends in the wilderness. He descends in Edom. He descends on Bezra.

Because that's where Israel will be. Look at the book of Micah. Micah chapter 2, verse number 12.

I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob. I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold.

In the Hebrew, it literally reads, Laz the sheep of Bezra. And then it says, Like a flock in the midst of its pasture, they will be noisy with men. The breaker goes up before them.

They break out, pass through the gate, go out by it. So their king goes on before them, and the Lord at their head. The Lord, the king, the breaker are all the same, the Messiah.

He will gather them together as a sheep of Bezra. He will bring them together because he is going to protect them. It's important to read what the text says over in the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 49, verse number 13. For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, listen carefully, that Bezra will become an object of horror, a reproach, a ruin, and a curse, and all its cities will become perpetual ruins. I have heard a message from the Lord, and an envoy is sent among the nations, saying, gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle.

Verse 20. Therefore hear the plan of the Lord, which he has planned against Edom, and his purposes, which he has purposed against the inhabitants of Timan. Surely they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock.

Surely he will make their pasture desolate because of them. The earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry.

The noise of it has been heard at the Red Sea. Behold, he will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out his wings against Bezra. And the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

One more verse. Book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk chapter 3, verse number 3. It says, in the last days God comes from Timan and the Holy One from Mount Paran.

His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise. Both Timan and Mount Paran are on Mount Seir, which is in Edom. When the Lord descends, He descends in the wilderness where Israel is at a place prepared specifically by God, according to Revelation chapter 12.

And when He descends, He has a sword. And He will descend upon Bezra. He will descend upon Edom.

That's where the battle begins. Now listen carefully. The Bible says these words in Revelation chapter 14.

Revelation chapter 14. It says, verse 19. And the angel swung a sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth and threw them into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the winepress up to the horse's bridles for a distance of 200 miles. Do you know that from Edom to Esdalon, which is the valley of Megiddo, is 200 miles? And the Bible says that when the Lord, who is the great reaper, comes and treads the winepress alone, that blood will flow up to the horse's bridle for the span of 1,600 stadii, or 200 miles. Now, does that mean the blood will actually flow that high, or does that mean the blood will be splattered that high? Commentators differ on that, but we know that when Isaiah sees the Messiah coming, his garments are splattered with blood.

And when you tread the winepress, if you understand what happens there, they tramp on the grapes. Juice sprays everywhere. That's exactly what's going to take place when the Messiah returns.

You need to understand. They assemble at Armageddon. They journey down through the Jezreel Valley, down through the Jordan Valley, down through the Judean wilderness.

There, the Antichrist and his armies want to destroy Israel. And because it's pitch black, because the illuminaries have disappeared, the sky is rolled up like a scroll, the Messiah descends with a great light, because God is light. And thus the battle begins.

Where? In Bozrah, because that's what the Bible says. And when he comes, he speaks a word, and it's over. It's almost over before it begins, because the Messiah, in his supernatural act, destroys those who come against him.

That's the place of the war. Let me talk to you specifically about the purpose of the war. Initially, Satan has a plan.

Satan always has a plan. It's always the wrong one, but he's got a plan, okay? But ultimately, it's a sovereign plan, because Satan is only allowed to do what God allows him to do. And we've already seen throughout the book of Revelation and through our study of the return of the king that the Antichrist is allowed to do certain things, because God allows him to do that.

But initially, he has a plan. And the Bible says that I saw it coming out of the mouth of the dragon and the mouth of the beast and the mouth of the false prophet, the unholy trinity. Satan always tries to disguise himself and to mimic the truth, right? We know there's a triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Well, there is an unholy trinity. It's the Antichrist, who is the beast. It is the dragon, who is the serpent or Satan.

And there's the false prophet. And coming out of their mouth are these evil spirits. Now, the mouth is the center of influence.

And so, they influence the kings of the east to gather together. Satan has a plan. He wants to move them all to one place to go against Israel, to go against the great God of the universe.

Satan believes he can win. He is so deceptive, he has deceived himself into thinking that he can actually defeat the Lord of the universe, the King of kings. And we know that he deceives the whole world.

We read about that in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse number 9. Revelation 13, 12-15. Revelation 17, verse number 14. He has convinced them.

Listen, even though their bodies have been scorched by the sun, even though they have, according to the first bowl, they have loathsome malignant sores all over their bodies, and because of the pain, they've chewed off their tongues, he still has convinced them to come together and to fight against God. That is the influence of the demonic influence of the last days. He will convince the kings of the world to gather together against God and convince them that they can win, that everything will be okay if they just follow him.

But ultimately, it's a sovereign plan, right? Because God has designed it. It's his war. It's not Satan's war, it's his war.

And it's called the great war of God. In fact, it's called the great supper of God, according to Revelation 19. The angel gathers all the birds to come and gather there in that Judean wilderness, in that 200-mile span to eat the carnage, because it's the war of God.

Over in Zechariah chapter 14, Zechariah 14, verse number 1 says, Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be delivered among you, divided among you, excuse me. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, and the houses plundered, and the women ravished, and half the city exiled. But the rest of the people will not be cut off from that city.

Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when he fights on a day of battle. And in that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. So when Isaiah sees him, he sees him coming from the wilderness.

He sees him coming from Bozrah. He sees him coming from the land of Eden, because he descended there to protect the nation of Israel, because God prepared a place in the wilderness. And we know that the wilderness is Edom and Moab, according to what the Old Testament says.

So we know that the Lord descends to Edom to protect his people, to destroy his enemy. And he makes his way up the Judean wilderness, ultimately to stand on the Mount of Olives. By the way, every king that conquered Jerusalem stood on the Mount of Olives and raised his sword to the sky in victory.

The ultimate king will do more than raise his sword. He'll split the mountain, because he's King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He'll stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley.

So that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. That's what he's going to do. Now you understand the war of the nations.

It's not really much of a war. I hate to say it that way. I don't want to disappoint you.

But it's not much of a war from God's perspective, because we know that according to 2 Thessalonians 2, that the Antichrist is slayed by the breath of the Messiah. He just speaks the word, and it's over. So now you understand a little bit about the purpose of the war.

God has a purpose. He's going to bring it all to an end. He's going to bring the empire of Babylon to an end.

He's going to bring the empire of Antichrist to an end. Antichrist wants to be worshipped. He wants to be king.

He wants to rule, but he can't, because there's only one king. There's only one ruler. It's Jesus Christ our Lord.

And so the purpose of the war, even though Satan has a plan, ultimately it is a sovereign plan that runs right on schedule by God himself. What's easy to put into three, the players in the war. Real quickly, there's the monarchy, the kings of the east.

In the Greek, literally it's the kings of the setting of the sun, or the rising of the sun, excuse me. The kings of the rising of the sun. Listen, that's Japan, China, India.

That's the kings of the rise of the sun. Why do they gather together? Why are they the kings of the east? Because there are no kings of the west. Oh, by the way, America is in the west.

There are no kings of the west by this time. All the kings are in the east. And they're all coming from the east.

And they all gather as a monarchy to fight against the king of kings and lord of lords. In chapter 17, verse number 12, it says, And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, that they give their power and authority to the beast.

These will wage war against the lamb, and the lamb will overcome them because he is lord of lords and king of kings. You have the monarchy. You have the army, right? Revelation 19, 19 says, And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled together.

The whole world comes together. This is the great war of the nations. They come together to fight the king of kings and lord of lords.

They have the adversary, the unholy trinity, who has persuaded these people to gather together to fight against God. But you also have the destiny of that army, the destiny of that monarchy, the destiny of the unholy trinity. Yeah, their destiny.

It says very simply these words in Revelation 19, verse number 20, And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet, who performed the signs in his presence by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone, and the rest were killed with the sword which comes from the mouth of him who sat upon the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. Why does the Lord end up on the Mount of Olives? What's so significant about that? Well, that's recorded in the book of Joel.

Joel chapter 3, verse number 1, For behold, in those days and at that time when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is called the Valley of Decision. The Valley of Decision is called the Kidron Valley.

Okay, all the same location. It says, Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of my people and my inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and they have divided up my land. In other words, the reason God ends up on the Mount of Olives and splits the Mount of Olives is because at the base of the Mount of Olives is the Kidron Valley, the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the Valley of Decision.

It's time for God to decide their future. The Bible says this in verse number 12, Let the nations be aroused and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations, put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.

Come, tread, for the winepress is full, the baths overflow, for the wickedness is great, multitudes and multitudes, in the Valley of Decision. That's the Valley of Jehoshaphat. For the day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision.

The sun and the moon grow dark, the stars lose their brightness, and the Lord roars from Zion, and there is His voice from Jerusalem. The heavens and the earth tremble, but the Lord is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel. There's going to be a judgment.

There's going to be a judgment. That's why He descends in Edom or on Edom to protect His people, and the battle begins. With the word of His mouth, the sword of His mouth, He speaks the word.

His enemies are destroyed. How are they destroyed? What happens to them? How do we know how God destroys them? Let me read it to you. Zechariah 14, verse number 12.

Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who have gone to war against Jerusalem. Their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet and their eyes will rot in their sockets and their tongue will rot in their mouth. That's how it happens.

He speaks the word and everything just disintegrates and rots because of their vileness, because of their evil. He destroys them, that He might judge them because in the Kidron Valley, remember it's the valley that the Lord would cross over after the night in which He would break bread with His disciples and ascend up the Mount of Olives, right? Here in the Garden of Gethsemane. And then those 600 temple police and those 200 foot soldiers and the high priest would come across that Kidron Valley, that valley by now which would begin to flow with the blood of sacrificial lambs and come and get the Messiah, take Him back across that valley that flows with the blood of the lambs, take Him to the house of Caiaphas and thus the trial would begin.

That valley becomes significant because of the blood that would flow in the valley. It's the blood of the lamb and therefore, those who decided against the lamb will then be destroyed by the lamb in the same area that depicts the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. It is just absolutely marvelous the plan that God has for the end of the world and how He's gonna bring it to pass.

All that to say, there's a promise. I have nine minutes left. Man, the promise from the war, listen to what it says.

Verse 15, Behold, I'm coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments lest he walk about naked and men see his shame. The first promise stands with the phrase, Be amazed.

Behold, stand in awe. That's what behold means. I am coming.

How? Like a thief. That's how He's gonna come. It's gonna be like a thief because He's gonna show up unexpectedly.

He's gonna show up suddenly. He's gonna show up quickly when they least expect Him. When the Antichrist believes that He has found a way to destroy the nation of Israel because He knows if He destroys them, there's no reason for their King to come because there's nothing to come back for.

There's nothing to say they're all dead. But because it's pitch black, the thief shows up unexpectedly and suddenly. Be amazed.

I am coming like a thief. When you least expect it, I'll be there. And I'm sure Israel won't even expect it.

But every eye will see Him, the Bible says. Every eye will be completely visible and every eye will see the arrival of the Messiah. Be amazed.

He is coming. But be assured that when He comes, you're ready. He says, Behold, I am coming like a thief.

Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments. What is that? Remember the parable of the 10 virgins? It was a parable about the bride and the 10 virgins who five are wise and five are foolish. This is a parallel not to virgins but to warriors who are alert, who stay awake and keep themselves ready for battle.

Therefore, they are clothed and ready for battle. Therefore, you need to be assured that you're clothed, as Isaiah the prophet said, in the garments of God, which are the robes of righteousness. Stay awake.

Make sure you're clothed. Make sure you have the proper clothing on. Not just any garment.

Not just any robe. It's the robe of righteousness. It's the garments of God.

And that is the salvation of one who comes to saving faith based on everything that God has done and absolutely nothing that you do. That's salvation. So he says, be assured because that's the blessed person.

The blessed one is the one that has the assurance that when the king arrives, he is properly prepared. He is dressed in the garments of God. He has the robes of righteousness and he rests in those robes.

And then he says this, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame. Nakedness is equated with shame. Nakedness would mean that you don't have the robe.

You don't have the garments. So be amazed. He is coming.

He's coming like a thief. Be assured that you have the proper garments. The garments of God.

Lest you be ashamed. Remember what John said back in 1 John 2, verse 28. And now little children abide in him.

Remain in him. Persevere. Keep true to the faith.

So that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame at his coming. Who are the ones who shrink away in shame? Those are the ones who don't abide. The abiding one is the one who's characteristic of the believer.

He abides because he's clothed in the garments of God. Be amazed. He's coming like a thief.

Behold, I'm coming. He said it over and over again. He said it in Peter's epistle.

He's coming like a thief. He said it in Paul's epistle. He's coming like a thief.

And John says, he's coming like a thief. Quickly, to do harm to those who are not assured of where they will spend eternity. Those clothed in the garments of God.

Because those people will be the ones who live the shamed life. It's pictured in Matthew 7. When on the day of judgment, people stand before Christ and say, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not cast out demons in your name? Did we not do marvelous deeds in your name? And Jesus says, depart from me. I never knew you.

There are so many people in the world today. So many people who think they're saved. That's the biggest tragedy of all.

People who think they're saved. Thinking you're saved is not good enough. You gotta know you're saved.

People think they're saved. And they do things in the name of God. Cast out demons, prophesy, teach, do all kind of things for God.

And one day, they will wake up to the greatest day of shame ever because they're naked. But we did all this for you. And Jesus will say, I'm sorry, I never knew you.

Can you imagine that? Can you imagine going through your whole life thinking that you were saved, dying, only to realize that you weren't. It's too late. It's too late.

That's why you need to be assured. You're clothed in the garments of God. The war of the nations is coming.

It's been promised. We will come back with him as believers because we would already been translated out of here. We will come back with him.

There will be many who have gathered together in the valley of decision to receive the judgment of God because they were not dressed in the garments of God. Let's pray. Father, we thank you, Lord, for your Word.

What a joy to know that we can study the Bible and you'll give us the answers. We don't have to wonder about heaven. We don't even have to wonder about whether or not we're going there.

Your Bible is very clear. It's very, very plain. We thank you for the Word of the Lord, the Word of truth, the Word that speaks to your reliability, your faithful and true.

It speaks to your mystery. You have a name which no man knows. It speaks to your eternality, the name called the Word of God.

It speaks to your royalty, the king of kings and lord of lords. May we not leave tonight not knowing that we are clothed in the garments of God. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.